A Navy medic renowned for his heroic actions during the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Harry Chandler, has died at the age of 103.

He passed away on Monday at a senior living center in Tequesta, Florida. According to Ron Mahaffee, the husband of his granddaughter Kelli Fahey, Chandler suffered from congestive heart failure, although his advanced age was acknowledged as a factor in his passing.

Chandler was the third Pearl Harbor survivor to die in recent weeks. On December 7, 1941, he served as a hospital corpsman 3rd class when waves of Japanese fighter planes bombarded the naval base, a pivotal moment that led the United States into World War II. In a 2023 interview, Chandler recounted seeing the planes approach while he was raising the flag at a mobile hospital in Aiea Heights. Initially mistaking the aircraft for American planes, he quickly realized the danger as bombs began to fall.

His first instinct was to take cover, fearing that the planes would begin strafing the area. However, as chaos ensued, Chandler and his unit responded swiftly, riding trucks to assist the injured. He later described boarding a boat to rescue wounded sailors from the oil-slicked waters of the harbor.

The attack resulted in the deaths of over 2,300 U.S. servicemen, with nearly half of those casualties occurring on the USS Arizona, which sank just nine minutes after being bombed.

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Following the war, Chandler pursued a career as a painter and wallpaper hanger and co-owned an upholstery business with his brother. He joined the Navy reserves, ultimately retiring as a senior chief in 1981. Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, he spent most of his life in nearby South Hadley and later divided his time between Massachusetts and Florida.

Chandler was also an avid golfer, achieving five hole-in-ones throughout his life. He is survived by one biological daughter, two adopted daughters from his second marriage to Anna Chandler, who passed away in 2004, along with nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.